Cousin Sisters

Although all of this was Su Ti's speculation, he believed it was highly possible.

Su Ti's eyes flickered. It seemed the waters of martial arts in this world ran deep.

And that was a good thing for him. The stronger this world's martial arts were, the stronger he could become. Perhaps he really could resolve the trouble of the Death Fighting Competition all by himself.

Facing many alone, fighting an entire organization and power by himself—such a thing had been utterly impossible in Su Ti's previous life. Humans could not become that powerful.

But the battle in the alley today had shown Su Ti that this possibility existed.

As long as he kept growing stronger, perhaps one day he could become so strong that no one could ever threaten him again, strong enough to sweep away every threat.

Thinking of this, his heart surged with excitement and longing.

"Su Ti, go to bed early. Your eldest uncle is bringing your cousin sisters over tomorrow."

Su's Mother's voice came from outside.

"Got it, Mom."

Hearing that, Su Ti put on his clothes and tried on the two sets his mother had bought for him. Sure enough, both were too small.

Su's Mother had bought them according to Su Ti's original measurements. Now that he had grown taller, they naturally no longer fit him well.

The tags had not been removed, though, so Su's Mother could take them back to the store to exchange tomorrow. It was simple enough.

Su Ti turned off the lights and fell asleep.

The next day.

Early in the morning, Su's Father and Su's Mother got up to buy groceries and began preparing lunch.

Noon was when his eldest uncle would arrive. This was the first time since returning that his eldest uncle had formally brought his children over as guests, so Su's Father and Su's Mother both attached great importance to it.

After a busy morning, there came a knock at the door around noon.

When they opened it, Su Zihao stood outside in an oversized suit, a gold chain around his neck. He practically had "nouveau riche" and "country tycoon" written all over his face.

He was not alone at the door. The driver in a black suit beside him was carrying a huge pile of gifts.

The two girls following behind him, one tall and one short, were Su Ti's cousin sisters.

"You came all this way, why bring gifts too? Honestly, come in, come in. We're just a humble household, no need to change your shoes."

Su's Mother smiled as she welcomed Su Zihao inside.

Su Zihao instructed the driver to put down the gifts and told him to wait downstairs. Then he coughed and deliberately raised his voice.

"How could I come empty-handed? It's just some cheap milk and fruit. I hope you and my sister-in-law won't mind accepting them."

As soon as he said that, Su's Father, who had cautiously poked his head out from the kitchen, withdrew it. Su's Mother gave a wry smile.

"Big Brother, don't take offense. You know Zimo. That's just his temperament."

Su Zihao curled his lip. He had grown used to it after being back for a while. If the gifts were valuable, even something like cigarettes or liquor, Su Zimo would never accept them. That was why he had only brought ordinary household gifts like fruit and milk this time.

"These are my two daughters, Qiaoqiao and Yuwei. Hurry and greet your aunt."

"Hello, Aunt."

"Hello, Aunt."

"Good, good, hello." Su's Mother beamed. "It's been so many years. Qiaoqiao and Yuwei have grown so much all at once, and you're getting prettier and prettier."

Su Qiaoqiao, Su Ti's younger cousin, had dyed blond hair and a cross-shaped stud in her ear. Even when visiting Su Ti's home, she wore a crop top and ultra-short shorts, as if the word "rebellious" were written across her face.

Su Yuwei, on the other hand, was completely different. She wore business attire, gold-rimmed glasses, and had her hair tied up. With light makeup on her face, she gave off the impression of a meticulous business elite. Her poise and presence seemed even more mature and steady than her father Su Zihao's.

From their appearances alone, Su Zihao's two daughters were like heaven and earth apart.

As she spoke, Su's Mother nudged Su Ti and Su Ling, who had long been standing to one side.

"Hurry and greet your cousin sisters."

"Hello, older cousin. Hello, younger cousin."

The two greeted them. Su Ti remained calm, while Su Ling's expression was somewhat stiff.

They had been apart for so many years that these cousin sisters were practically strangers. There was not even the faintest sense of familiarity.

Even Su Ling had little memory of them from her previous life. She only remembered that they had briefly come to Mingguang City before quickly leaving again.

She knew they were blood relatives, and she ought to greet them with a smile and warmth when they came as guests. Yet the more she thought about it, the more awkward she felt.

"Hello, cousin brother. Hello, older cousin."

"Hello, younger cousin. Hello, younger cousin."

The four younger relatives each responded, then stood quietly to the side.

The two elders were still chatting and laughing.

"I remember Qiaoqiao and Yuwei were only five or six back then, weren't they?"

"The older one was eight, and the younger one was only four."

At that, Su Zihao sighed.

"I left Mingguang ten years ago. Thirteen years have passed in the blink of an eye, and our two families haven't seen each other all these years."

As she said this, Su's Mother also showed a nostalgic, emotional expression.

"You, honestly. Back then, you insisted on going out to do business and make big money. You left for so many years without even sending word. We didn't even know when Xiuzhen passed away."

Xiuzhen was Su Zihao's wife. Back then, she had taken her two young daughters with her to join Su Zihao in building his business. But in the third year, she died suddenly from an acute illness brought on by overwork.

Hearing this, Su Qiaoqiao snorted coldly. Her eyes revealed undisguised hatred toward her father, and without saying a word, she walked to a corner and sat down.

Su Zihao gave a bitter smile at the sight.

"Back then, I failed Xiuzhen. She suffered so much with me, and in the end..."

"Big Brother, it's been so many years. Don't be sad anymore."

"I never remarried all these years because of Xiuzhen. I wronged her. Now I only want to raise my two daughters well until they grow up and start families. The older daughter is fine, but the younger one really... I don't know how to manage her."

As Su Zihao and Su's Mother discussed this topic, they both unconsciously lowered their voices and moved toward the dining table in the living room.

In the kitchen, Su Zimo was still cooking.

The four younger relatives sat on the living room sofa. Su Ling's face was stiff, and she felt it would be awkward whether she left or spoke. She could not have felt more uncomfortable.

Su Qiaoqiao sat with her arms crossed, sulking with an angry expression. Clearly, Su's Mother's mention of her mother's death had stirred up painful memories.

As the elder sister, however, Su Yuwei looked entirely composed. She seemed very mature, nothing like someone who was only twenty-one. She took the initiative to start a conversation.

"Cousin, I'll just call you Su Ti. It's been so many years that I almost didn't recognize you. Where are you studying now?"

"Mingguang University."

"Mingguang University? Not bad. It's the best school in the city. As expected of someone from a scholarly family—cultured and good at studying."

Su Yuwei was only two years older than Su Ti, yet her manner of speech made her sound like an elder.

And it was not an act. She possessed an air of maturity, confidence, and responsibility, like a leader who had made many decisions and seen the world.

Su Ti found it quite interesting and asked.

"What about you, then, older cousin?"

"Me? I stopped studying long ago. I'm helping my father with his business now."

At that, Su Qiaoqiao suddenly cut in.

"Heh, my sister got her Nanfeng University diploma last year. Still studying? How ignorant."

"Su Qiaoqiao."

Su Yuwei shot Su Qiaoqiao a glare for deliberately interrupting.

Su Qiaoqiao was not afraid in the slightest and continued speaking.

"That's just how it is. My sister is now the vice chairman of Sheng Hui Electric Appliance. She manages all of my dad's company, and she's worth over a hundred million."

"You—"

Su Yuwei's brows shot up as she was about to scold Su Qiaoqiao. Just then, her phone rang. She hurriedly apologized and went outside to answer it.

"Tch."

Seeing this, Su Ling curled her lip, stood up, and went straight back to her room.

She had always been doted on by her parents and was a genius girl who had been showered with attention since childhood. She could not be bothered with relatives who flaunted their wealth like this.

Besides, the apocalypse would arrive in a year, bringing earth-shaking changes. No amount of money would matter then. Only strength was the unquestionable law for surviving in the apocalypse.

That was why she could not be bothered to listen to these relatives show off their wealth. She might as well go practice her swordsmanship.

After Su Ling left, Su Qiaoqiao also gave a cold snort and sat there with her arms crossed without speaking.

Su Ti was rather surprised as he watched Su Yuwei leave to answer the phone. Nanfeng University was one of the leading universities in Xiya Country and used a credit system. Those who entered normally generally needed five or six years to earn enough credits.

Yet Su Yuwei had graduated from Nanfeng University with all her credits last year, when she was only twenty. She was undoubtedly an exceptionally gifted genius.

And she was not merely good at studying. She also seemed highly talented in business.

Since he could not go anywhere today anyway, Su Ti decided to find out more about Su Zihao's family.

As for whom to ask, it was the rebellious and arrogant-looking Su Qiaoqiao.

Su Ti felt there was no difficulty in getting information out of a rebellious little brat like her. He spoke casually.

"Did your sister really graduate from Nanyang University at such a young age? Why don't I believe it?"

Su Qiaoqiao, already full of anger, sneered when she heard that and snapped back.

"Heh, you bumpkin. You think everyone else is as stupid as you? My sister has been a genius since she was little. The year my mom died, she was already the Olympiad math champion and ranked first in her entire grade."

"Not only that, she also—"

Under Su Ti's prompting, Su Qiaoqiao, who seemed wild and rebellious but was actually extremely immature, soon poured out everything about Su Yuwei like beans from a bamboo tube.

Setting aside Su Qiaoqiao's embellishments, it was roughly the story of a genius older sister and a foolish younger sister.

Because their mother died early, and because their family had been poor before Su Zihao made his fortune, he was often away from home for business. As a result, Su Yuwei matured early. While doing housework and caring for her younger sister, she also had to study.

Even under those circumstances, Su Yuwei had forced her way into Nanfeng University. She completed all her credits and graduated from the finance department in two years. If not for having to run the company, she would have continued her studies.

While she brought honor to the family, a large part of the reason her father's business had reached its current scale was because of her. As for the other part...

"Don't let my dad's nouveau riche appearance fool you. He's actually nothing. His fortune was picked up off the ground."

"If he hadn't found his biological father by accident in Nanfeng Province and been given part of the assets to manage, and if my sister hadn't advised him and run the company for him, could he have what he has today?! Bullshit!"

It was clear that Su Qiaoqiao harbored enormous resentment and dissatisfaction toward her father Su Zihao. She even belittled him openly in front of a relative like Su Ti.

"He's just lucky. When my mom was alive, she managed the business for him. Not only did he refuse to help, he went out playing cards every day, and my mom was worked to death! After she died, my sister started worrying over everything for him. As a grown man, he doesn't have to do anything—he just gets everything handed to him on a plate!"

By this point, Su Qiaoqiao was already furious, her flat chest rising and falling continuously.

Su Ti, however, glanced at Su Zihao some distance away in surprise. He had not expected there to be these two reasons behind Su Zihao's rise to wealth.

"My eldest uncle's biological father? Wouldn't that be my grandfather?"

"Yeah. You didn't know?"

Su Ti truly had not known. Su Zimo had never mentioned a word about his grandparents, though Su Ti vaguely remembered Su's Mother saying that Su Zimo and Su Zihao were twin brothers. Their grandfather had run away before they were born, never to be heard from again.

Therefore, Su Zimo and Su Zihao had both been raised by their grandmother alone. Their grandmother had passed away early, and before her death, she had never told them anything about their father.

At that, Su Qiaoqiao said proudly.

"Our Su family is a prominent family in Nanfeng Province. The largest Su Corporation there belongs to our family."